Our Two Cents: Vehicles That Never Got the Engine They Deserved
What vehicle never got the engine it deserved? That’s the question we asked the staff here at Hagerty Media. Our love of cars goes back decades, or centuries if you combined us into one superhero of an automotive journalist, and we’ve all wondered how much better certain cars would be if they had a different engine …
… Or a better engine, something that truly spoke to the rest of the car. Let’s see what alternate realities we have created!
A Standard V-8 for Every Cadillac
For me, it’s the fact that all Cadillac cars (cars—Escalade excluded) from the last 20 or so years lack a standard V-8 engine. GM has an excellent LS motor, and a baby Caddy with a modest 4.8-liter small-block would give buyers more reason to avoid a thirsty BMW for a slightly more thirsty Caddy.
As the Caddy becomes larger, the V-8 engine follows suit (5.3-liter CTS, 6.2-liter CT-6, etc.) with increased displacement, and forced induction for the V-series examples. The inherent torque and simplicity of a pushrod V-8 complements the minimalist architecture of GM’s new EV powertrains, and exclusively pairing those two in a luxury car brand will make Cadillac more appealing than any of its competition. — Sajeev Mehta
As under-the-radar-good (and as mod-friendly) as the ATS-V’s LF4 V-6 is, I agree. After having spent over ten thousand miles with the smaller of the Alpha-chassis Caddys, the ATS should have gotten the 455-horse LT1 from the Camaro, and the ATS-V should have gotten the LT4. — Eddy Eckart
V-8 Bronco Raptor/ Ford GT
Ford Bronco Raptor. Lack of a V-8 is … yeaaaaah. For the record, I am fully aware that you can’t easily fit that V-8 into Ford’s T-6 frame. Actually, here’s the same opinion again: This also applies to the most recent Ford GT. — Matt Tuccillo
For sure, the Ford GT shoulda had a V-8. — Larry Webster
I think I’ll also jump on the Ford GT bandwagon, as I don’t care for the reasoning of why it got the EcoBoost V-6. That car deserved a V-8 based on heritage alone. – Greg Ingold
Yes, please! Kill the flying buttress, make room for a 900+ horsepower Coyote with a twin-screw supercharger. — Sajeev Mehta
V-8 Prowler
The Plymouth Prowler comes to mind. Chrysler Corporation came up with a car that was a modern nod to the classic hot rod but forgot the one factor that people want from a hot rod: A V-8 engine. You have to actively try to miss that detail. I don’t think anyone would’ve minded seeing a 318 Magnum out of a Ram pickup in the Prowler, as long as it came with eight cylinders. — Greg Ingold
Honda Motors in a Modern Lotus
Any modern-day Lotus fits in this category. They make do with Toyota engines but the chassis deserves the character of a Honda motor. — Larry Webster
Having a Lotus with a K-Series would be excellent! Totally agree with that take. — Greg Ingold
A Straight-Six SLK
Let’s not overlook the original Mercedes SLK. This folding-roof roadster needed Mercedes’ juicy and punchy 2.8-liter straight six. That supercharged four-cylinder engine was disappointing, and the manual gearbox was even worse. — Larry Webster
SHO-inental, If Only
I only thought of this car/engine combo since I yanked my 1989 Continental Signature Series out of storage. Turns out it needed new rubber, and tires from a 1989 Ford Taurus SHO are a smidge wider on the same-sized wheel. Getting a set of those and slapping a set of 1/4-inch spacers on the rear gave it a stance that I can’t stop looking at. And now, curiously, it’s getting a lot more compliments. Even the manager of a local burger joint stopped me from giving my order so he could compliment me on it.
He thought it was a Town Car, but that’s not the point. These moments get this Lincoln-restomodding fool thinking about one thing: Ford needed an automatic transmission ready for the Taurus SHO sooner, and should have slapped it all into the 1989 Continental. Such a tragedy! — Sajeev Mehta
Citroën DS
The Citroën DS was so unconventional and interesting that it’s easy to forget there was only ever an old-fashioned, underwhelming OHV four under the hood. The later SM got a Maserati V-6, but the DS was never so lucky. — Andrew Newton
The Sky Shoulda Been the Limit
GM flogged its Ecotec four-banger, and I know they made crazy power for drag racing. But I thought the Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky deserved a more refined motor. — Larry Webster
They needed an LS, maybe just a small-displacement 4.8-liter, to keep Chevrolet appeased with their Corvette’s dominance. But I am sure that was discussed in some conference room at GM, and it was quickly shot down. — Sajeev Mehta
My current Lotus came new with a K series engine. It has a Rover K series. Light-weight, and fragile like one should expect from a Lotus.
I had a ‘86-1/2 Fiero GT that I bought new. I thought that its engine was fine. As it was, the back end would step out if there was any moisture on the ground and more than minimal throttle was applied.
Tucker, anyone?
Having tracked a 3rd Gen CRX for several years now it is ever more apparent that some more displacement, cylinders, and/or boost would have made this little pocket rocket even more fun – especially with the herds of Corvettes, Mustangs, Porsches, and even more exotics now breathing down your neck. I think this has been made obvious by the many swaps that have been stuffed under all those CRX hoods.
I thought the 1275 in my bugeye was enough of a bump up but Aaron Couper put a 3.8 liter Jag six into his Sprite and it looks great and I read, it goes like stink
I always felt the United Federation of Planets‘ Constitution Class starships (aka USS Enterprise NCC-1701) could have used more grunt. Not being able to escape the Planet Eater’s tractor-beam remains Spacefleet’s most embarrassing moment yet to come. 😹
Seriously though, have to second the X1/9 and Scorpion comments…I had both. Interestingly, Abarth developed a twin-cam four-valve head for their rally-prepped X1/9 Prototipos that developed 200+ hp IIRC.
Another underpowered Italian that deserved better is the 1980-82 Ferrari 308. With a pavement-shredding 205hp at the flywheel, the 308 did get help with a four-valve head in 1983, but could have easily used another 60 or 70 hp on top of what it got.
The newly designed Camaro for 1982…. and getting the Iron Duke 4 cylinder as the standard engine. C’mon, man!
You completely forgot the Delorean. That should have had a small V8…
As for the Sky/Solstice, There were companies that would throw an LS in one for you, Mallet Pontiac IIRC, but apparently they fit just fine.
Love the list.
Yeah a prowler without a v8 is a total miss. More recently what were Maserati thinking with the TTv6 in the mc20.
What most miss cars on the list have missed and something nearly every car misses is that the engine is part of the character of the car, that along with styling steering and brake feel. Fine to ignore those things if you’re selling an ev, or a rav 4. But 50% of the market likes a cool car, that’s why the mustang was such a hit in 64.
As a serial modern lotus owner(na elise and v6 cup track car) , couldn’t agree more about the honda powerplants. A new Elsie with the turbo motor from the type R would be what’s called a killer app, light and pointy like an elsie, and faster than the v6 cup.
The emira is a dud, looks great, has many of the right bits but 300lbs too heavy and long in tooth powerplant.. However they do have the 4cyl amg variant, but only 360 hp whereas at mercdes they come with 421 hp and some go to 500hp. Now a 2900lbs emira with 500hp, that would be something special.
The car business is so full of almost there but missed the mark.
Howzabout a Volvo P1800 with a V-8 or even a 6?
You rejected my request for a insurance quote for my immaculate 2007 Bentley Azure automobile. My driving record is superb, the car is in excellent condition, it’s garaged, I drive it twice a week and it’s currently insured with WAWANESA INSURANCE CO.
I want to know WHY the rejection????
Folks here sure seem obsessed with putting V8’s into everything, even those cars for which it would clearly be a mistake.
The Vega clearly need a better engine (and much more), but there was nothing all that great available at GM back then for small cars.
How about a new article?
“Cars that never got the transmission they deserved.”
V-8 Cadillacs
The 2004-2007 CTS-V had the N.A. LS6/LS3 400 HP V-8. In 6 spd speed manual form only.
The chassis tuning, HP, TQ, and balance were absolutely terrific.
Unfortunately the interior of that body style was not in the same class.
The 2008 CTS was a completely new car, and utterly amazing in almost all respects, size, interior, etc.
The 6 speed manual with the new 300 HP DI V-6 is nice, but the car cries for the V-8! The chassis tuning and tires of the FE3 suspension is that good it could easily handle it. This is M3 level chassis tuning on a reliable GM platform. I have driven 100s of Pro-Solo level cars. These are some of the best, ever.
The LS3 was even in the GM service manual as an option, but apparently dropped before production.
But alas the N.A. LS3 was not available, while GM completed testing on the supercharged version that came out a year or so later. That is a whole different car, basically a supercar.
But the normal LS6 / LS3 was never to be in this car, and it would have been ideal. The heavy car could benefit from the TQ. The MPG is barely any different on the N.A. ones I have driven.
The supercharged V8 engine car is a world class car, but has no business being considered as a daily driver, and the safe but rich tuning gives it a hefty 12 mpg thirst.
The NA V8 engines do much better, and get high teens in town, and mid to high teens on the hwy.
Even 360 HP would have been fine.
Alas GM again misses the market, and we can only pine for what might have been.
Then the later normal cars they switched to not smooth running turbo-fours? With no better option. Sigh.
These are prime cars for an NA LS swap if you can handle the electronics. The correct V series mechanical parts make it almost a bolt-in.
I will have to make do with rebuilding my 300HP V6 with manual trans and making it last another 100k + miles, because I will not buy any of their current products. I was almost but not quite ready to do an LS upgrade.
FWIW I drove a homemade conversion Northstar V-8 Fiero and that was quite a nice ride, especially with the one year only, upgraded ’88 aluminum suspension components that finally gave the car the handling it’s looks deserved. My wife had an earlier 4spd V-6 one, and the handling was admitedly, rather Chevette like.
Too many watered down features due to committee consensus at GM, except for the V Cadillac group and the Corvette/Camaro group. Sigh.